The Ukrainian government has alleged Moscow of sending missiles at Odesa port, which was the country’s main grain exporting port after Russia had agreed to deal allowing for the exportation of grain in a bid to curtail the fast-rising global food crisis.
According to a report from the military, they were able to intercept two missiles that were targeted towards the port, while they were unable to intercept another two that struck the port.
Reports have shown that an agreement was reached on Friday between Russia’s defense minister, which was brokered by Turkey and the UN to allow for the safe passage of millions of grain from the Black sea port for exportation.
Russia’s naval forces since they invaded Ukraine, have blockaded the country’s commercial sea routes, which makes it difficult to export its farm produce to other countries, a situation which made Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan meet with President Putin on Tuesday in Iran to look for a possible way out to allow for the exportation of the grains.
Ukraine had said, the Saturday strike is a violation of Russia’s promise to free grain export and not to attack any grain infrastructure which was the main purpose of the Friday agreement, and that no matter any pledges the Russians made, they will surely find a way not to abide by it.
The attacks have received worldwide condemnation, and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres who had expressed hope in the peace pact taking place between the 2 countries for over five months had made out his intention on condemning the attack on the food bloc.
Guterres who had initially tagged the deal as a “beacon of hope” couldn’t hold his disappointment on the attack, saying the more the attack, the more the pressure on global food cost.
Reports from Financial Times stated that the Ukraine foreign ministry spokesman had said Russia would bear full responsibility for the deepening of the global food crisis if it did not uphold its promises not to attack the port. He accused Putin of spitting in the face of UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who brokered the talks.